Respected London magistrate Mr. Posket has never done anything shocking in his life; which only makes it more surprising when his stepson, Cis, manages to coax him into an ill-fated night on the town. Following his escape from the police, Posket desperately tries to hide his actions, certain that the truth would ruin his career.

This well-crafted farce was a huge success when it premiered in 1885, and has since been made into a film and a musical. It was most recently revived on the West End in a production starring John Lithgow.